Where Teachers Come First

Biography

Jared Lee was raised in Van Buren, Indiana. He received his BFA degree from the John Herron Art Institute located in Indianapolis. In 1970, after serving two years in the military and working one year at Gibson Greetings as a greeting card designer, he started his free-lance career.

Jared's work has been associated wwith US Postal Service, New York Telephone, L.L. Bean, Procter and Gamble, Ralston Purina, Land's End, Bell South, Hasbro, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Dutton Children's Books, just to name a few.

He was one of the six illustrators chosen to create the first group of Happy Meal boxes for McDonalds.

Jared has illustrated over eighty books for young readers, and is best known for his wacky collaboration with author Mike Thaler on the best-selling Black Lagoon series, including "The Teacher from the Black Lagoon." Mr. Lee also licenses a humorous line of t-shirts and gift items, which is sold throughout the United States and abroad.

He has received awards from the Society of Illustrators, the Martha Kinney Cooper Ohioana Library Association, the National Cartoonist Society, and numerous advertising clubs.

Memberships include the Society of Illustrators, Illustrators' Partnership, and the National Cartoonist Society.

Jared's home and studio are nestled away in the secluded area of Southwest Ohio where he lives a happy life with his wife P.J., dogs, cats, ponies, ducks, and a pond full of unknown creatures.